Magnetic holder for display cards



June 19, 1951 M Q TEETQR 2,557,399

MAGNETIC HOLDER FOR DISPLAY CARDS Filed Dec. 29, 1945 FIG. I

mwszvron. Macy 0. Teefor Attorneys Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC HOLDER FOR DISPLAY CARDS Macy O. Teetor, New Castle, Ind. Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,107

2 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a holding device for display cards and the like and more particularly to a holding device that is adapted to retain display cards or the like in vertical display position by magnetic means.

Heretofore, there have been employed various means or structures for holding display cards and the like in vertical position which either were more or less makeshift in character or of an elaborate nature. Those of the makeshift type comprised unsightly Wood blocks, heavy weights, or other miscellaneous objects not specifically designed for such purposes and wholly unsuited for window display purposes. The display card holders of the more elaborate type,

however, comprised relatively large ornamental frames and structures, and while such elaborate holders performed their intended function with some degree of satisfaction, their size, specialized structural natures and expense nevertheless rendered them commercially undesirable.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved holding device for display cards and the like that is adapted to support such articles in proper display position by magnetic means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved supporting means for display cards and the like that is relatively small in size, of inexpensive and simplified construction and at the same time has substantially universal application to display cards of all shapes, sizes and dimensions.

A further object is to provide a holder for display cards andthe like by which such articles may be readily placed in vertical display position and supported therein against inadvertent displacement.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying draw ing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of one embodiment of card holding device comprising the present invention and illustrated in operable card supporting position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the embodiment of card holding device of Fig. 1 and illustrating the complemental supporting units thereof in opened-up position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a second embodiment of the present invention illustrated in operable card supporting position; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention illustrated in opened up position.

Generally, the display card holding device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing comprises a pair of complemental mat,- netic supporting units l0 and II which are adapted to be placed on a flat surface and between which a card I2 may be supported in proper vertical position for display purposes.

The magnetic holding units It] and H may be of identical construction, except as hereinafter noted, and each comprises a solid one quarter sphere or body portion [3 composed of plastic or other suitable material into which has been molded a permanent U magnet M. The body portions I3 are each provided with a flat bottom surface, a curved outer surface and with a vertical bearing surface at one side adapted to bear against one side of a display card. Secured to the bottom surfaces of the body portions I3 are thin felt pads it which serve to prevent scratching the surface of any display area upon which the units if! and I I may be placed.

The magnets 14 are disposed crosswise of the body portions l3 in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to the bottom surfaces thereof, and project to the vertical bearing faces of the body portions l3 so that their north and south. pole faces are exposed and flush with those vertical bearing faces. The vertical face of each quarter sphere is flat from edge to edge and together with the flat exposed pole faces of each magnet 14 presents a flat bearing surface for wide overall bearing contacts between the holding units It and H and the card I 2. The magnets M are so arranged within the body portions l3 that the opposite pole faces of the respective magnets will be in alignment when the vertical faces of the units I 0 and H are in opposed relation.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the opposed vertical bearing faces of the holding units l0 and l l are in parallel planes relative to each other but are disposed at sloping angles out of the perpendicular relative to a flat surface upon which the units 10 and H may rest. Thus, the angle of slope of the vertical bearing face of the magnetic unit [0 is complemental to the angle of slope of the vertical face of the magnetic unit H. By providing the units it] and I! with complemental sloping faces, the card [2 may be held therebetween in a tilted vertical position at substantially right angles to the line of vision of a reader of the card !2 so as to be more easily read. Also, be cause the opposed sloping bearing faces are par allel and thus equidistant at all points when in opposed relationship, no angular space therebetween is formed which would permit rocking or tilting of the card l2. However, with satisfactory results, the vertical bearing faces of the holding units I and II may be perpendicular relative to their supporting surfaces and thus parallel to each other and capable of holding the card I2 firmly therebetween, as above described. When in this assembled position shown in Fig. l, the holding units Ill and II complete a halr sphere and present an attractive overall appearance.

When it is desired to mount a card I2 in a store window, for instance, for display purposes, the holding unit I I may first be placed in the desired position on the horizontal surface of the display area. The display card I2 may then be placed in sloping vertical position with its back side against the sloping vertical face of the holding unit II and with its lower edge resting on the horizontal surface of the display area. And finally, the other holding unit It! may be placed in opposed relationship to the unit II with its sloping vertical face in bearing engagement against the front or printed side of the card I2 and then pressed tightly thereagainst as the holding unit I I is held against slippage. In this final assembled position, the vertical bearing faces of the holding units II] and II are in close opposed relation so that the unlike poles of the respective magnets M are in alignment with each other and with the card I2 therebetween but through which the magnetic lines of force pass from one unlike pole to the other so as to complete the magnetic circuit between the two magnets l4. Thus, when assembled as above described, the holding units In and II are securely held together by magnetic attraction with their verti- I cal'faces in opposed relation and, consequently, the card I2 is securely held therebetween in upright readable position.

The second embodiment shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing may be of somewhat simpler form than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but its manner of operation and the results obtained are substantially the same. In this form the complemental holding units 2!] and 2| may take the form of elongated permanent bar magnets having flat bottom surfaces covered with thin felt pads 22, flat vertical bearing surfaces and curved outer surfaces. As in the first embodiment, the 0pposed vertical faces of the units 20 and 2! may be somewhat sloping out of the perpendicular but parallel to each other so as to be equidistant at all points when in opposed card holding position. In such opposed. position, the opposite magnetic pole faces of the respective magnets will be in alignment so as to attract each other and complete the magnetic circuit between the two magnets. Such a form of card holder has special application to an elongated card 23 which may be securely held in tilted vertical position thereby, as shown. 7

The third embodiment shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing is of substantially the same construction and operation as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except as to shape of the holding units 30 and 3|. These units are in the shape of half cones and being complemental to each other they form a complete cone of pleasing appearance when placed in operable opposed position. The vertical faces of each of the units 30 and 3| may be sloping out of the perpendicular but parallel to each other as in the other forms so .a card may be securely held in tilted position therebetween.

Also, as in the other forms, the units 30 and 3! are adapted to be held together in card supporting position by the magnetic attraction of the magnets 33 whose opposite pole faces are in alignment, when the units 30 and 3! are in opposed position, so as to complete the magnetic circuit through the two magnets.

It is apparent that the improved card holding devices illustrated in the drawing not only serve to properly hold a display card or the like in vertical readable position at all times, but also have other inherent advantages. Because of their simple construction, the complemental units comprising the devices may be readily and inexpensively produced. The embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and 4, also may be produced in a wide variety of attractive colors in the half spherical and conical shapes, which present distinctive and ornamental appearances for display purposes. The complemental units through the mutual attraction of their magnets are held together under relatively great magnetic force and are capable of retaining themselves in card holding position at all times, and even during movement of the card for purposes Of cleaning the display area or otherwise. During non-use the complemental units may also mutually retain each other in opposed relation so as to minimize the danger of loss or separation of the individual units, the magnet of one unit thus serving as a keeper for the magnet of the other unit so as to greatly lengthen their eflloient operable lives.

Although there has been shown in the drawing and described above one preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that-variations and modifications may be made without departing from the underlying principles'of the invention. For instance, as a matter of economy, one of the magnets of one of the complemental supporting units could be replaced with a metal plate or plug of magnetic metal with satisfactory results, since the units would still be held in opposed card-clamping relationship by magnetic attraction. It is intended, therefore, by the following claims to include within the scope of the invention all variations and modifications by which the results of the invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising in combination a flat display card and a pair of complementary supporting units in opposed coacting engagement at opposite sides of said card for supporting the latter in generally upright display position therebetween, each of said units comprising a body portion having a flat bottom face for engagement with a supporting surface and a generally upright bearing face in intimate fiatwise engagement with a fiat face of said card adjacent the lower portion thereof, said card extending upwardly to a substantial extent above said supporting units, a permanent magnet element imbedded in the body portion of one of said units and having a pair of magnetic pole faces disposed in flush relationship with the bearing face of said one unit, and a companion magnetically attractable metal element imbedded in the other side of said units adjacent the bearing face thereof, said elements being disposed in substantial alignment whereby said supporting units are retained in opposed card-supporting position by magnetic attraction therebetween.

2. A display device comprising in combination a flat display card and a pair of complementary supporting units in opposed coacting engagement at opposite sides of said card for supporting the latter therebetween in display position slightly inclined from the vertical whereby to facilitate observation of said card, each of said units comprising a body portion having a flat bottom face for engagement with a supporting surface and a slightly inclined bearing face in intimate fiatwise engagement with a flat face of said card adjacent the lower portion thereof, the inclined bearing faces of said units being substantially parallel to each other whereby to engage the opposite fiat surfaces of said card for supporting the latter in tilted position and said card extending upwardly to a substantial extent above said supporting units, and a pair of permanent magnet elements imbedded in the body portions of said units with the pole faces of said magnet elements being disposed in flush relationship with the respective bearing faces of said units, said magnet elements being disposed in substantial alignment and in magnetically attractive coacting positions within said body portions whereby said supporting units are retained in opposed card-supporting position by magnetic attraction therebetween.

MACY O. TEETOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 93,931 Westcott Aug. 1'7, 1869 1,236,234 Troje Aug. 7, 1917 2,451,088 Shortt Feb. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,624 Great Britain May 24, 1889 864,094 France Apr. 1'7, 1941 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,557,399 June 19, 1951 MACY O. TEETOR It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requirmg correction as follows:

Column 4, line 70, before the word of strike out side;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of August, A. D. 1951.

[SEAL] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant C'ommz'ssz'oner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,557,399 June 19, 1951 MAGY O. TEETOR It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 70, before the word of strike out side;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of August, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

